AG'S Report: Issues with swiftlet nest harvesting activities in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: The management of revenue which derived from swiftlet nests harvesting activities in Sabah was found to be unsatisfactory, according to Auditor-General's Report 2016 Series 2 released today.
The report stated that the audit review between February and May this year found arrears in the revenue amounting to RM28.29 million from 2000 to May 2017 involving 12 contractors.
It also revealed that the direct or temporary contract appointment for leasing and collecting of bird's nests in Gua Gomantong and Gua Bapba Buli contravened the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, while the direct contract appointment in Gua Madai was not signed.
"One of the two contractors has not settled RM500,000 in arrears for the contracts in Gua Madai between 2012 and 2015. (In fact,) there was no Work Procedure Manual that clearly stated the cut-off time and actions that should be taken," it said.
The report also called for the Sabah Wildlife Department to come out with a clear and comprehensive Work Procedure Manual on bird nests harvesting activities to ensure complete collection, and that the payments from contractors could be settled within a time frame.
The audit also recommended the department to streamline its file management and contract administration system to facilitate monitoring, as well as to enhance efficiency.
"It is recommended that the Sabah Wildlife Department provides a proposal on every selection process of contractors in the future, including the analysis of the estimated quantities of bird's nests that can be collected, to be submitted to the state Finance Ministry.
"The department should also establish the Internal Investigation Committee to investigate, report and take corrective or punitive action on non-compliance cases over contractual and payment terms so that the same issue will not recur," the report said. — Bernama